Police Joint Team kill 104 bandits, arrest 85 in Zamfara

The Nigeria Police Force has said it has killed 104 armed bandits during an attack on Mahanga forest in Birnin Mogaji in local government area of Zamfara State.

Force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, through a statement which also disclosed that 50 hideouts in three camps belonging to the bandits were also destroyed.

According to him, over 500 cattle and 79 Sheep were recovered from the bandits, while a policeman was killed during the operation.

He explained that arising from the incessant attacks in the state, the Inspector- General of Police on Nov. 9, deployed a Police Joint Intervention Team of about 1,000 personnel comprising the seven Units of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Police Anti-Bomb (EOD) Squad and conventional policemen.

Moshood further explained that the team, headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police was mandated to arrest and prosecute bandits, Kidnap for ransom and cattle rustling gangs operating in parts of the State.

He revealed that since arrival, the team has arrested more than 85 suspects, recovered 27 AK-47 rifles and 52 locally fabricated rifles and other dangerous weapons, 269 cattle, 109 sheep already handed over to their owners.

The statement disclosed that the I-G on Thursday deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Operations to coordinate the operation and further consolidate on the achievements of the team.

Moshood released some numbers which members of the public who have information or are in distress in any part of Zamfara can call. They include the following: 08037025670, 08033210966, 08033312261, 08123829666, 09053872244, 07082351758 and 08091914752.